HB 2265 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Protecting tenants from periods of extreme heat.

HB 2265 requires landlords in Washington state to allow tenants to install portable air conditioners or evaporative coolers (like window units or floor models) without restriction, unless specific safety or structural concerns apply. Landlords may only prohibit such devices if installation violates building codes, damages property, exceeds electrical capacity, or conflicts with window egress requirements - prioritizing tenants with disabilities requiring cooling. The bill mandates landlords provide written lease notices detailing tenant rights and restrictions, and shields landlords from liability for tenant-installed device issues. This directly affects all residential tenants in Washington, particularly those in buildings without permanent AC during extreme heat events.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 6, 2026 Last action Jan 19, 2026
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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
3
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Jan 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Housing at 1:30 PM.
lower
1 primary · 16 co-sponsors

Sponsors